Skanda Purana — Nagara Khanda, Shloka 3

Devanagari script

समुद्र इव गांभीर्ये सौम्यत्वे शशिसंनिभः । वीर्ये यथा सहस्राक्षो रूपे कन्दर्पसन्निभः

Transliteration

samudra iva gāṃbhīrye saumyatve śaśisaṃnibhaḥ | vīrye yathā sahasrākṣo rūpe kandarpasannibhaḥ

Translation

ഗാംഭീര്യത്തിൽ സമുദ്രംപോലെ, സൗമ്യതയിൽ ചന്ദ്രനെപ്പോലെ; വീര്യത്തിൽ സഹസ്രാക്ഷ ഇന്ദ്രനെപ്പോലെ, രൂപത്തിൽ കന്ദർപ്പനെപ്പോലെ ആയിരുന്നു.

Word by Word

• समुद्रः: ocean
• समुद्रः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (standard of comparison)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

• गाम्भीर्ये: in depth/gravity
• गाम्भीर्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाम्भीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विषयाधिकरण (locative of respect)

• सौम्यत्वे: in gentleness
• सौम्यत्वे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौम्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विषयाधिकरण

• शशि-संनिभः: moon-like
• शशि-संनिभः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + संनिभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (शशिना संनिभः = शशिसदृशः); विशेषणम् (नृपः implied)

• वीर्ये: in valor/power
• वीर्ये: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विषयाधिकरण

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upama (Comparison marker/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक/प्रकारवाचक (as/just as)

• सहस्राक्षः: Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• सहस्राक्षः: Upamana (Standard of comparison/उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्राक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान (इन्द्रः)

• रूपे: in beauty/form
• रूपे: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विषयाधिकरण

• कन्दर्प-सन्निभः: like Kāma (Cupid)
• कन्दर्प-सन्निभः: Karta (Subject qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कन्दर्प (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुषः (कन्दर्पेण सन्निभः = कन्दर्पसदृशः); विशेषणम् (नृपः implied)

Speaker

Sūta

Tirtha Mahatmya

Tirtha: Mahākāla (contextual)

Type: kshetra

Skanda Dialogue

Listener: Ṛṣis

Visual Art Cues

Scene: Portrait-like depiction of Rudrasena: calm, moonlike face; posture steady and ocean-deep; armor and weapons indicating Indra-like valor; refined ornaments suggesting Cupid-like beauty.

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Sahasrākṣa)
• Kandarpa

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Dharma is upheld when power is balanced by gentleness and inner depth—virtues praised as fit for a devotee-king.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

The verse prepares the listener for Mahākāla’s māhātmya by portraying the worthy devotee associated with the sacred place.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

None; it is a poetic eulogy describing the king’s qualities.